A
Do you like shopping? Or does the thought of wandering round the shops fill you with terror? For some of us, shopping is an enjoyable way of spending our spare time and our money. For me, it’s something I would rather avoid. Thank goodness for the Internet! It’s more convenient to buy CDs, electrical items, even food, from the comfort of your sofa. But that’s not the only reason：price is an important factor. We can buy goods and services cheaper online. But sometimes the problem is knowing what to buy. This has led to a type of shopping called ＂showrooming＂.
Showrooming is something I’ve done. I will go to a shop to see, touch and try out products but then go home and buy them online at a knock-down price. I’m not alone in doing this. Research by a company called Foolproof, found 24% of people showroomed while Christmas shopping in 2013.
Amy Cashman, head of Technology at TNS UK, says the reasons for this new shopping habit are that＂people are lacking time, lacking money and they want security about the products they are buying＂. She explains that consumers are not only shopping online at home but they are using the Internet in store or on their smartphones to shop around.
But does this mean technology will kill shops? Certainly shops will change. They will have to offer more competitive prices or encourage people to buy more by giving in-store discounts or free gifts.
We mustn’t forget that buying in a shop means you can get expert advice from the sales assistant and you can get good aftercare. It’s good to speak to a real human rather than look at a faceless computer screen but at least by showrooming, you get the best of both worlds!
21. The two questions in Paragraph l are raised to .
A. get answers from readers B. compare different opinions
C. introduce the topic D. give two examples
22. What does showrooming mean in the text?
A. Shopping on the Internet.
B. Buying something in a store.
C. Showing products in a room.
D. Trying in shops and buying online.
23.What can be inferred from Paragraph 4 ?
A．Shops will be replaced by online shops．
B．Shops need necessary changes．
C．Free gifts will surely promote sales．
D．Online shops will disappear．
24. The author’s attitude towards showrooming is.
A. supportive B. casual C. neutral D. critical
